Kevin Roberts: “I rise to respond to this unanimous consent request to call up and pass a bill to make modifications to the Supplemental…”

“I rise to respond to this unanimous consent request to call up and pass a bill to make modifications to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. Over the past few months, through the enactment of both the Families First Act and the CARES Act, Congress has provided both funding and flexibilities for nutrition assistance during this pandemic emergency. The funding from the Families First and CARES Acts has included the following: $15 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; $8.8 billion for the School and Child Nutrition Programs; $1 billion in food distribution programs, like The Emergency Food Assistance Program, TEFAP, and the Food Distribution Program for Indian Reservations; $500 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or the WIC Program. In addition, Congress provided emergency SNAP benefits, allotments, and pandemic EBT benefits for children while schools are closed. The Department of Agriculture has been steadily distributing both food and benefits, and the Department has granted and extended many flexibilities to State and sponsoring organizations to get food to those in need. The distinguished Senator from Michigan, for whom I have a great deal of respect and friendship--we have a history of working together on the Agriculture Committee to help those in need.…”